Automatic shutoff valve



July 4, 1950 Filed July 1, 1947 E. c. HART AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF VALVE 2.Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Ewing 6. Hart WW 3M July 4, 1950 Filed July 1,1947 E. c. HART 2,513,862

AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3.

Inventor Ewing 6. Hart By A.

WWW

Patented July 4, 2950 AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF VALVE Ewing 0. Hart, Russell-Kans.,'assignor of forty per cent to James E. Chastain, Russell, Kans.

Application my 1, 1947; Serial No. 758,290

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements inautomatic shut-off valves for use on gravity systems of pipe linesleading from oil storage tanks and for other purposes.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an automaticshut-off valve which prevents air from entering the pipe line after theoil in a storage tank has fallen to and below the header line level ofthe discharge pipe' from such tank and to also prevent the return of theoil in the tank from the discharge pipe.

A still further object is to provide an automatic shut-off valve whichprevents air locks in pipe lines and pumping units especially between astorage tank and the force pump connected thereto.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character ofsimple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable inoperation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise welladapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the valve in its connectedrelation with a storage tank;

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the valve housing;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the float valve;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the lower valve for the inlet chamber.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose ofillustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the inventionthe numeral 5 designates the valve housing generally and which includesan inlet chamber 6 having a flanged inlet pipe 1 connected to its upperportion and to which a discharge pipe 8 leading from a storage tank 9 isconnected, the chamber 6 preferably being below the horizontal plane ofthe pipe 8 whereby oil will flow from the tank 9 by gravity to the inletchamber 6.

A float chamber In is integrally cast with the housing 5 and projectsupwardly from the inlet chamber 6. The bottom of the float chamber I0 isprovided with an opening II for admitting liquid thereto from thechamber 6.

The opening I I is provided with a valve seat I2 3 Claims. (01 271-42 onwhich a gravity actuated valve [3' is engaged, the valve I3 having legsI4 extending downwardly into the opening II to guide the valve into itsclosed position on the seat I 2.

Apertured tongues I5 project radially from the valve I3 for sliding thevalve I3 on vertical guide rods I6 suitabl supported in the floatchamber III.

A flanged discharge pipe I! projects horizontally from the float chamberID in the plane of the inlet pipe I. A header I8 is attached to theinner end of the discharge pipe I! and projects into the float chamber I0, the header I8 being provided with an opening I9 in its top and formedwith a valve seat 20 at the edge of the opening. A float valve 2| isintegrally formed at the bottom of a float 22, the valve 2| being seatedon the seat 20 to close the opening I9 and legs 23 extend downwardlyfrom the valve through the opening I9 to guide the valve into its seatedposition.

The float 22 is provided with vertical openings 24 for sliding on theguide rods I6 and each of the guide rods between the valve I3 and float22 is provided with a tube 25 slidably mounted on the guide rod.

The top of the float chamber [0 is closed by a cover plate 26.

A finger gripping lift 21 is provided for the valve I3 and a similarlift 28 is provided for the float 22 and the valve 2| attached thereto.

In the operation of the device oil flows by gravity from the storagetank 9 into the inlet chamber 6, sufficient pressure being built up inthe chamber 6 to open the valve I3. The upper movement of the valve I3pushes the tube 25 upwardly to engage the bottom of the float 22 tothereby raise the float and open the valve 2I and as oil enters thefloat chamber In the float 22 is maintained in its raised position.

The oil then passes from the float chamber I0 through opening I9 and outof discharge pipe I! to a refinery or other point of disposal.

The level of oil in float chamber In drops when tank 9 is drained to thelevel of header l8 thus lowering float 22 and closing valve 2!. Valve I3is also closed when relieved of pressure in chamber B and air isprevented from entering float chamber I5 and inlet chamber 6 by way ofthe pipe IT. The valve I3 also prevents the return of oil to tank 9 frompipe I1.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of thedevice will be quite apparent to those skilled in gamma this art. A moredetailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shownand described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same 3 issusceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of theinvention as herein 1 described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed 1 as new is:

1. An automatic cut-oil valve for discharge pipes of tanks andcomprising a valve housing having an inlet connection, a float chamberin the upper portion of the housing and having an outlet connection,said chamber having'an opening in its bottom, a gravity actuated valvefor the opening, a float valve for said outlet connection, and anoperating connection between the valves for opening the float valve uponopening movement of the gravity-actuated valve.

2. An automatic cut-oft valve for discharge pipes of tanks andcomprising a valve housing having an inlet connection,a float chamber inthe upper portion of'the housing and having an outlet connection, saidchamber having an opening in its bottom, agravity actuated valve for theopening, responsive to fluid pressure entering the valve housing fromthe inlet to open the valve, a header in the float chamber for theoutlet connection and having a discharge opening,

1 ing the valve housing from the inlet to open the valve, a header inthe float chamber for the outlet connection and having a dischargeopening, a float valve in the float chamber for said discharge opening,guide rods for the valves, and

tubes slidable on the rods between the valves and operable to open thefloat valve upon an opening movement of the gravity valve.

EWING C. HART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 669,611 Anderson Mar. 12, 19011,906,277 McGee May 2, 1933

